The Zoologist — October, 1866. 397 



" I think be'U be to Kome 

 As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it 

 By sovereignty of nature." 



Coriolanus, Act iv. Scene 7. 



Falcon {Falco peregrinus and F. palumbarius). 



Throughout the whole of Shakespeare's Plays we find frequent 

 allusions to Falconry, which in his time was much in vogue; and to 

 judge from the accuracy and aptness with which he has employed 

 terms used exclusively in hawking parlance, our poet must have pos- 

 sessed no mean knowledge of the noble art. 



In the second part of Henry VI, Act ii. we find a scene laid at St. 

 Alban's, and the King, Queen, Gloster, Cardinal and Suffolk appearing 

 with falconers halloawg. I shall quote that portion of the scene 

 which refers more particularly to the sport. 



" Queen. Believe me, lords, for flying at the brook 



I saw not belter sport these seven years' day, 



Yet by your leave, the wind was very high ; 



And ten to one old Joan * had not gone out. 

 King. But what a point my lord your falcon made. 



And what a pitch she flew above the rest ! 



To see how God in all his creatures works. 



Yea, man and birds are fain of climbing high. 

 Suf. No marvel, an it like your majesty, 



My lord protector's hawks do lower so well. 



They know their master loves to be aloft, 



And bear his thoughts above his falcon's pilch. 

 Glo. My lord, 'lis but a base ignoble mind 



That mounts no higher than a bird can soar. 

 Card. I thought as much, he'd be above the clouds. 



****** 



Believe me, cousin Gloster, 

 Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly 

 We bad had more sport." 



"Flying at the brook" meant "hawking for waterfowl": 



" Ryding on hawking by the river 

 With grey goshawk in hand." 



Chaucer. 



* Evidently the name of a favourite falcon. 



